Circuit interrupter



March 11, 1952 J, M. WALLACE CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER Filed July 9, 1945 2 SHEETSSHEET l INVENTOR March 11, 1952 J M WALLACE 2,588,594

CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER Filed July 9, 1945 2 SHEETSSi-IEET 2 WITNESSES: INVENTOR famehsM Waflace.

Patented Mar. 11, 1952 CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER James .M. Wallace, Braddock, Pa., assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application July 9, 1945, Serial No. 603,941 17 Claims. (01. 200-89) This invention relates generally to electric circuit interrupters, and especially to novel control means for interrupters of the automatic reclosing type.

It is desirable to control the circuit opening and closing times of automatic reclosing circuit interrupters, and for this purpose various arrangements have been suggested. One difiiculty in providing a simplified arrangement, particularly of a mechanical nature, is that it is often desired to have the circuit opening and closing times different, and the arrangement should also be such as to integrate closely successive operations of the interrupter so as to actuate lockout means for maintaining the interrupter open after a predetermined number of such operations.

Accordingly, oneobject of this invention is to provide in an automatic reclosing circuit interrupter, a single mechanical time-delay means for controlling both circuit opening and circuit closing operations of the interrupter.

Another object of this invention is to provide an automatic reclosing circuit interrupter with a single mechanical time-delay means which is operable to delay circuit opening and circuit closing operations of the interrupter for different times.

Another object of this invention is to provide in an automatic reclosing circuit interrupter,

novel means for controlling the circuit opening and closing times of the interrupter.

Another object of this invention is to provide in an automatic reclosing circuit interrupter, novel means for controlling the circuit opening and closing times of the interrupter and being responsive to a predetermined number of closely' successive operations of the interrupter to prevent reclosure thereof.

Still another object of this invention is to provide in an automatic reclosing circuit breaker, a

novel arrangement of timedelay means therewith for controlling operation of the interrupter.

These and other objects of this invention will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description of preferred embodiments thereof, when taken in connection with the attached drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation view, partly in section, of a circuit interrupter constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view of a part of the modified type of mechanism adapted foruse with 2 a circuit interrupter like that shown in Fig. 1, and with certain of the parts broken away; and

Fig. 4 is a side view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3, looking in a direction substantially at right-angles to Fig. 3, and with certain of the parts shown in section.

The circuit interrupter illustrated in Figure 1 is adapted to be mounted in a substantially cylindrical casing 2 of insulating material, such for example as porcelain or the like. Casing 2 is adapted to be supported by a bracket 4 substantially midway between the ends of the casing, and the lower end of the casing is closed and provided with an aperture for receiving a terminal bolt 6. An enlarged head 8 is provided on terminal bolt 6 adapted to be seated on the inner side of the closed lower end of the casing on a sealing washer ill of rubber or the like, and a nut I2 is provided for securing the terminal bolt in place, and for securing a terminal fixture l4 thereto.

Casing 2 is provided adjacent the upper end thereof with a channeled supporting ring l6 secured to the casing in any desired manner, such as by cast metal l8 interlocking with the channel of the ring and with a plurality of peripheral grooves on the casing. A cover casting 20 is provided for the open top of the casing, and is 'andan integral hood portion 24.

A shaft 26 is adapted to be supported within chamber 22 of the cover casting, with opposite ends thereof mounted in opposite walls of the chamber. A generally U-shaped spring support 28 has the leg portions thereof rotatably mounted on shaft 26, and is normally biased in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. l, by a compression spring 34 mounted on a rod 3!] which is pivotally connected at one end to spring support 28. Rod 30 has its other end slidably mounted in an aperture provided in a lug 32 integral with the cover casting, and spring 34 reacts between this lug and a flange 36 integral with rod 30. Spring support 28 is normally prevented from counterclockwise rotation under the influence of spring 34, by toggle means comprising a toggle lever 38 pivotally connected at one end to a leg of spring support 28, and pivoted at its other end to a toggle lever 49 which, in turn, is pivotally mounted on casting 20 as at 42. Toggle lever 40 is provided with an integral handle extension 44 having a hookeye 46 at its outer end, and adapted, at the overcenter position of toggle levers 38 and 45 shown in Fig. 1, to be held by spring 34 in engagement with a stop bolt 48 threaded into a part of hood 25, and secured at an adjusted position by a lock nut 50.

A contact actuating lever 52 is pivoted at one end on shaft 25, and is biased in a clockwise direction by a spring 54 coiled about shaft 26, and having its opposite ends reacting on lever 52 and the bight portion of support 28, respectively. A pair of connecting links 55 of insulating material, such as fiber, are pivotally connected at each end with lever 52 and a contact rod 55, respectively. Contact rod 56 extends downwardly through casing 2 and into an interrupter chamber 64 where it is provided with a contact groove 58 adjacent the end thereof for cooperation with contact buttons provided on the outer ends of a generally U-shaped contact support 60.

Interrupter chamber 64 comprises a cylindrical body 56 of insulating material, such as fiber, having a top cap 58 threaded thereon, and a bottom cap Ill threaded onto the lower end thereof. Bottom cap Iii is provided with a central aperture for threadedly receiving a contact bolt 62" having a reduced extension 12 on which contact support 55 is slidably mounted. The end of extension 12 is provided with a flanged head I5, and a compression spring I4 mounted on extension I2 reacts between head I and contact support 55 to normally bias the latter to a lower position where it engages the larger part of bolt 52. The upper end of cylindrical member 55 is provided with notches for venting purposes, and cap 68 is provided with vent openings I8 adapted to be controlled by a valve disc 80 normally biased to uncover the openings by a compression spring 82.

Freedom of movement of valve disc 8!] is provided by vent openings 84. Cap It for the interrupter chamber is provided with fluid inlet openings 85 adapted to be controlled by a check-valve ring 88 which is guided in its movement by a guide ring 55 secured in position between cap Ill and the lower and of cylindrical member 65.

The structure of the interrupter chamber and v its mode of operation are similar to that described in the copending application of J. M. Wallace, et al., Serial No. 399,452, filed June 24, 1941, on Circuit Interrupters, and assigned to the same assignee of this invention. The particular contact construction disclosed is substantially identical with that disclosed in the application of J. M. Wallace et al., Serial No. 553,996, filed September 14, 1944, now Patent No. 2,549,350, April 17, 1951, on Circuit Interrupters, and also assigned to the same assignee of this invention. The operation of an interrupter chamber and contacts of this type generally, is initiated by upward movement of contact rod 55 by a means to be hereinafter described, which results in upward movement of contact support 60 until the upward limit of movement thereof is reached. The lower end of contact rod 55 is then withdrawn from between the contact buttons on the ends of contact support 55 whereupon spring 24 rapidly restores the contact support to its normal position shown in Fig. 1. This results in the drawing of an are within interrupter chamber 55 which acts on the arc-extinguishing liquid therein to create a pressure within the chamber, causing valve discs 85 and 88 to be seated on vent openings l8 and inlet openings 86, respectively. The pressure thus produced within chamber 54, acts to further separate contact rod 55 due to the piston-like action of the contact rod and its sleeve I3 of insulating material work ing in the central opening of cap 68 for the in-' terr upter chamberp Separation of the contacts continues until the are is extinguished, where upon valve disc 85 uncovers vent openings I8 due to the action of spring 82, to vent gases from the chamber, and at the same time, fresh fluid is permitted to flow into the chamber through inlet openings 85 by unseating check-valve disc 88.

For the purpose of initiating upward movement of the contact rod, a cylindrical solenoid core 92 is slidably mounted over rod sleeve I3, and the core is of a magnetic material, such as iron or steel. The upper end of core 92 is secured to an actuating sleeve 94 extending through a collar 96 threaded in the upper leg of a generally U-shaped solenoid supporting frame I98. Vent openings IIB are provided between core 92 and sleeve I I2 of insulating material, positioned within frame 508 and is held in adjusted position by a,

sleeve I I2 of insulating material, positioned within the central opening through coil I I0 and ahirt-.. ting at one end against collar 95, and hQld in, place by engagement of its other end with p; cap 68 or" the interrupter chamber which has an, extension Ild threaded into an opening in the, lower leg of frame I98. Collar 95 is. provided with vent openings 58 so as not to impede upward movement of core 92,. Actuating sleeve 94 is provided with a flange I09 at its upper end, and contact rod has secured thereto a collar I04 provided with arms Hi6 extending to a position where they are hooked beneath flange Illii. A compression spring I02 normally maintains aotuating sleeve 94 at its lowermost position since the spring reacts between flange I00 of the sleeve and support Iil l on the contact rod.

Solenoid coil H5 is connected in series in the circuit through the interrupter which extends from a terminal fixture H5 secured on cover casting 25 by a bolt M3, by way of a flexible conductor II! to one terminal of coil IIO, then from the other terminal of the coil by a flexible conductor ill to an arm I56 secured on contact rod 55, then in the closed position of the interrupter, to contact support 553, cap 10, through a coil spring II to the head 8 of terminal boltfi,

., and thus to terminal fixture I4.

"observed that solenoid supporting frame through the interrupter, it will be responsive to currents above a predetermined value to attract core 92 upwardly while compressing spring I02 which is of less strength than spring 54, and

finally causing upward movement of contact rod 55 to separate it from the contacts of support 60 in the manner described above. Of course, when the circuit has been interrupted by extinguishment of the arc in interrupter chamber 64, the contacts are automatically reclosed by the action of gravity and spring 54.

In order to provide for delay of the circuit opening and closing operations of the interrupter, there is supported between plates H8 an integrator gear I29 on a pivot pin I22, and this gear has a stop pin I25 thereon normally held against a stop lug I28 provided on one plate H8, by a v coil spring I25. Integrator gear I25 meshes with a gear I30 rotatably mounted on a pivot pin to. Ticker wheell32 isadapted toeooperate with a ticker "member I36"'pi'vo t ally mounted'between the supporting plateson a pivot pin I38. The ticker wheelhas'secured" thereto a pair of ratchet wheels I40, and I42 which may differ in size. A generally rectangular frame member is divided into two side parts 'I44 and I46 each of which is provided with ratchet teethfor engagement with ratchet wheels I42 and I40, respectively. Theseparts of theirame comprise pawl members pivotally connected to each other and to contact rod 56 at one end as by a pivot pin I48, and movably connected at. the other end by a pin I50 on the contact rod which is received in slots provided in pawl members I44 and I46. The pawl members are normally biased to engage their respective ratchet wheels by a tension spring I52.

It will be observed that, when contact rod 56 moves upwardly, the teeth on pawl member I46 will engage ratchet wheel I40 to rotate it counterclockwise, as viewed in .Fig. l, and thus operate ticker I36 so that initial upward movement of the contact rod is delayed. Only three teeth are shown on pawl member I46, as it is desired that the final portion of the upward movement of contact rod 56 be not delayed at the time when it separates from contact support 60, so that rapid separation and'elongation of the arc is accomplished. When the circuit has been interrupted and contact rod 56 is moved downwardly to reclose the circuit, the teeth on pawl member I44 will engage ratchet wheel I42 to rotate it counterclockwise a redetermined amount. It will be observed that just prior to final engagement of the contacts, the teeth of pawl member I44 will disengage the ratchet wheel so that the, final closing of the contacts will occur relatively rapidly. Each time the interrupter operates to open and reclose the circuit, integrator gear I20 is advanced in a clockwise direction a predetermined amount. If the condition which caused opening of the interrupter has disappeared upon reclosure thereof, spring I24 will gradually return the integrator gear to its normal, position. However, if the condition has not cleared, the interrupter will automatically operate to again open the circuit and then reclose, to thus advance integrator gear I20 a further amount. This will continue until stop pin I26 on the integrator gear is advanced into engagement with thelower edge of toggle lever 38, whereupon the toggle lever will be moved upwardly to collapse the toggle and permit spring 34 to rotate spring support 28 in a counterclockwise direction about shaft 26 and thus, by engagement with the inner end of actuating lever 52, hold the contacts separated. Collapse of toggle levers 38 and 40 will move handle 44 to a position where it projects from beneath hood 24 so as to form a readily visible'indication of the locked open condition of the interrupter. When the interrupter is locked open, integrator gear I20 will be reset by spring I24, and the interrupter may be closed by manually restoring handle 44 to the position shown in Fig. l, where the toggle levers are returned to the overcenter position shown, and spring 54 will be operative to reclose the contacts.

In the embodiment of theinvention shown in Figs. 3 and 4, a time-delay ticker device is provided adapted to be actuated by a lever I56 secured on a shaft I58, and having a slot in its outer end for receiving a pin I54 provided on contact rod 56, so that lever I56 will be rotated over an angle of approximately 90 during a circuit opening 7 or reclosing actuated from shaft I58"'byaj1planetary gear system, comprising a sun gear I60, secured on shaft I58 which meshes with a planet gear I62 supported on a pivot pin I64 carried by a toothed wheel I66, rotatably mounted on shaft I58. Planet gear I62 also meshes with a ring gear I68 also rotatable on shaft I58. Planet gear I62 which is secured on pivot pin I64, is adapted to actuate a pinion I70 also secured on pivot pin I64, and this pinion in turn meshes with a gear I72 pivotally mounted on wheel I66 as by a pivot pin I76, and this gear is secured for rotation with a ticker wheel I74 adapted to cooperate with a ticker I78 pivotally mounted on wheel I66, as at I80.

Latch levers I82 and I84 are provided for cooperation with ring gear I68 and wheel I66, re spectively. The latch levers are pivotally mounted on a common pin I86 supported by an angled support I88 which, in turn, is pivoted as at I90 between supporting plates I59. The latch levers I82 and I84 are provided with pins I92 and I94, respectively, adjacent the outer ends thereof adapted to be engaged by a release arm I96 which may be integral with a release lever I98 pivotally connected with lever I56 as at 200, and having an elongated slot 282 in its outer end for slidably receiving a pin 284 mounted on support I88. With the circuit interrupter closed, corresponding to the position of the parts shown in Fig. 3, release arm I96 engages pins I92 and I94 on the latch levers to maintain them out of engagement with ring gear 38 and wheel I66, against the bias of a tension spring 203 connecting the latch levers. Latch lever support I88 is provided with a pair of notches 266 for engagement by a latch lever spring 208 supported on a cross bar 2I0, for holding the support in either of two adjusted positions.

When contact rod 56 moves upwardly to interrupt the circuit, sun gear I60 is rotated clockwise to rotate planet gear I62 counterclockwise. Upward movement of the contact rod and lever I 56 also permits latch I82 to engage notches provided about the periphery of ring gear I68 to prevent rotation of this gear, with latch lever I84 being held away from wheel I66 by engagement with a shoulder I8I on support I88. Consequently, counterclockwise rotation of planet gear I62 causes it to move orbitally in a clockwise direction, thus moving wheel I66 clockwise and operating ticker I78 to thereby delay the circuit opening operation of the interrupter. When contact rod 56 reaches the upper limit of its movement, the lower end of slot 202 in release lever I 98 engages pin 204 to rotate latch support I86 to cause latch spring 298 to enter the other notch 206 of support I88. This causes shoulder I83 on support I88 to release latch I82, and permits latch I 84 to engage a notch in wheel I66. Accordingly, when the circuit has been interrupted and contact rod 56 moves downwardly, sun gear I60 will be rotated in a counterclockwise direction to rotate planet gear I62 in a clockwise direction. Since the planet gear is now prevented from moving orbitally, the rotation of the planet gear causes ring gear I68 to move clockwise. Reclosing movement is, therefore, delayed by operation of ticker I78 due to rotation of planet gear I62.

A circuit opening and closing operation of the interrupter thus results in advancing ring gear I68 approximately 90, assuming actuating lever areas 7 it is operated through a sirnilar arc, andalso results in an advancement of wheel I66 clockwise, only about 45. This advancement of gear 168 and wheel lBB may be employed for tripping -a lockout toggle such as that shown in Fig. 1, and it is preferred to employ wheel 466 for this purloose, it being shown as provided with a stop lug 212, normally held in engagement with a stop pin 2 I4 mounted on a supportingplate I59 by a coil spring 2l6 reacting between the supporting plate and ring gear I68. It will be noted that the ticker mechanism is operated both during circuit opening and circuit closing operations, so the proper time delay is obtained for both of these operations. Inasmuch as latches I82 andiBd are released when the interrupter is at its closed circuit position, spring 216 is then free to reset wheel I66 to its normal position wherein lug 212 engages stop pin 2M, so that lockout action of the interrupter will occur only in response to a predetermined number of closely successive circuit interrupting operations.

In the embodiments of the invention described above, there is provided a single time-delay de- Vice which may be of the mechanical ticker type, and which aifords time delay both on the circuit opening and circuit closing operations of the interrupter, and where the time delay may not be effective on a circuit openin operation to delay actual separation of the contacts (Figs. 1 and 2), and similarly may not be effective on a circuit closing operation to delay actual engagement of the contacts (Figs. 1 and 2). Moreover, the arrangement is such that the single time-delay device is adapted to provide for difierent delay periods on the circuit opening and closing operations, respectively, by reason of racks I44 and I46 differing in length and being engageable with ratchet wheels which difier in diameter (Figs. 1 and 2) and due to orbital movement of planet gear 162 during opening movement only, and the single time-delay device is also adapted to actuate an integrator for counting the number of closely successive operations of the interrupter for operating lockout means to prevent reclosing of the interrupter in repsonse to a predetermined number of such closely successive operations. The integrating means disclosed is also adapted to reset so that, in the event the condition causing a circuit openin operation of the interrupter clears before the occurrence of the predetermined number of operations required to lock out the interrupter, the occurrence of the same predetermined number of closely successive circuit interrupting operations of the interrupter will be required to operate the lookout means when a fault occurs at a later time.

Having described preferred embodiments of the invention in accordance with the patent statutes, it is desired that the invention be not limited to these particular devices inasmuch as it will be apparent, particularly to persons skilled in the art, that many changes and modifications may be made in these particular structures without departing from the broad spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an automatic reclosing circuit interrupor having separable contacts, means responsive to a predetermined circuit condition for separatamount before causing separation of said coritacts, time-delay means, and means responsive to opening movement of said part for connectin said time-delay means and said part for concurrent operation during said predetermined movement of said part and for disconnecting said time-delay means and said part for independent operation of said part before the predetermined movement of the latter is entirely completed, whereby contact separation is delayed a predetermined time after the occurrence of said condition but actual separation of said contacts is unrestrained by any part of said time-delay means.

2. In an automatic reclosing circuit interrupter having separable contacts, means responsive to a predetermined circuit condition for separating said contacts, means responsive to a circuit interrupting operation for automatically closing said contacts, said condition responsive means including a part adapted to cause separa tion of said contacts and being movable a predetermined amount before causing separation of said contacts, time-delay means, means responsive to opening movement of said part for connecting said time-delay means and said part during said predetermined movement of said part and for disconnecting said time-delay means and said part before its predetermined movement is entirely completed, whereby contact separation is delayed a predetermined time after the occurrence of said condition :but actual separation of said contacts is unrestrained, and

means responsive to return movement of said part for connecting said time-delay means and said part during return movement of said part and for disconnecting said time-delay means and said part before engagement of said contacts occurs.

3. In an automatic reclosing circuit interrupter having separable contacts, means responsive to a predetermined circuit condition for separating said contacts, means responsive to a circuit interrupting operation for automatically closing said contacts, said condition responsive means including a part adapted to cause separation of said contacts and being movable a predetermined amount before causing separation of said contacts, time-delay means, means for connecting said time-delay means and said part during said predetermined movement of said part and for disconnecting said time-delay means and said part before its predetermined movement is entirely completed, whereby contact separation is delayed a predetermined time after the occurrence of said condition but actual separation of said contacts is unrestrained, means connecting said time-delay means and said part during return movement of said part and for disconnecting said time-delay means and said part before engagement of said contacts occurs, and said connecting means including means whereby the resistance of said time-delay means to movement of said part in opposite directions differs.

4. In an automatic reclosing circuit interrupter having separable contacts, means responsive to a predetermined circuit condition for separating said contacts, means responsive to a circuit interrupting operation for automatically closing said contacts, a single time-delay means connected to a part of said interrupter at least during part of each circuit opening and closing operation for controlling circuit opening and closing operations of said interrupter, thepart to which said time delay'means is connected at least during a'circuit interrupting operation 138-,

mg movablea predetermined amount before causing separation of said contacts, integrating means adapted to be advanced a predetermined amount by said time-delay means during a cycle of operation of said interrupter cOmprislng a circuit opening and reclosing operation, means responsive to advancment of said integrating means a predetermined greater amount by a predetermined number of closely successive cycles of operation of said interrupter to prevent reclosure of said contacts, said integrating means being biased to return to a normal position, and said time-delay means being operable to delay return movement of said integrating means.

5. In an automatic reclosing circuit interrupter having separable contacts, means responsive to a predetermined circuit condition having a part movable a'predetermined amount and then causing separation of said contacts, means responsive to a circuit interrupting operation for automatically closing said contacts, said part being movable with said contacts at least during part of their circuit closing movement, a single mechanical time-delay device, means causing said part of the condition responsive means to be delayed in its predetermined movement by said device a predetermined time after the occurrence of said conditions before it becomes efiective to separate said contacts, and means for causing circuit closing movement of said part to be delayed by said device for a time different than said predetermined time.

6. In an automatic reclosing circuit interrupter having separable contacts, means responsive to a predetermined circuit condition having a part movable a predetermined amount and then causing separation of said contacts, means responsive to a circuit interrupting operation for automatically closing said contacts, said part being movable with said contacts at least during part of their circuit closing movement, a single timedelay means, means for mechanically connecting said part and said time delay means during at least a part of each circuit opening and closing operation, respectively, of said interrupter for actuating said time-delay means to delay each of said operations, and said connecting means constructed to operate said time-delay means a greater amount upon movement thereof in one direction than in the other so that said opening and closing operations will be delayed for different times.

7 In an automatic reclosing circuit interrupter having separable contacts, means responsive to a predetermined circuit condition having a part movable a predetermined amount and then causing separation of said contacts, means responsive to a circuit interrupting operation for automatically closing said contacts, said part being movable with said contacts at least during part of their circuit closing movement, a single timedelay means, means for mechanically connecting said part and said time delay means during at least a part of each circuit opening and closing operation, respectively, of said interrupter for actuating said time-delay means to delay each of said operations, said connecting means constructed to operate said time-delay means a greater amount upon movement thereof in one direction than in the other so that said opening and closing operations will be delayed for different times, means biasing said time-delay means for return movement to a normal position, and means responsive to operation of said time-delay means an amount caused by a predetermined number of closely successive operations of said interrupter to prevent reclosing of said contacts.

8. In an automatic reclosing circuit interrupter having separable contacts, means responsive to a predetermined circuit condition having a part movable a predetermined amount and then causing separation of said contacts, means responsive to a circuit interrupting operation for automatically closing said contacts, a movable ticker controlled member, a pair of ratchet means for actuatin said member upon movement of said ratchet means in opposite directions, respectively, one of said ratchet means being associated with said part for delaying circuit opening movements of said interrupter, the other of said ratchet means being movable with said contacts during at least part of their circuit closing movement to delay a circuit closing operation and said ratchet means each having a ratchet wheel with said Wheels differing in size, respectively, so that difierent mechanical advantages are obtained in actuating said member in opposite directions, respectively.

9. In an automatic reclosing circuit interrupter having separable contacts, means responsive to a predetermined circuit condition for separating said contacts, means responsive to a circuit interrupting operation for automatically closing said contacts, a rotatable ticker controlled wheel, a pair of ratchet racks mounted on a part which is movable by said condition responsive a predetermined amount before the latter causes separation of said contacts, said racks positioned to engage a pair of ratchet gears movable with said wheel for delaying circuit opening and closing movements of said interrupter, respectively, and said gears differing in size.

10. In an automatic reclosing circuit interrupter having separable contacts, means responsive to a predetermined circuit condition for separatin said contacts, means responsive to a circuit interrupting operation for automatically closing said contacts, a single time-delay means for controlling circuit openin and closing movements of said interrupter, planetary gearing including a planet gear for actuating said timedelay means and sun and ring gears, one of which is operatively connected with a part which moves in opposite directions on circuit opening and closing movements of said interrupter, respectively, means for holding the other of said gears against rotation upon actuation of said one gear in one direction whereby said planet gear is caused to rotate and move in its orbit, and means for preventing orbital movement of said planet gear upon actuation of said one gear in the opposite direction, whereby said planet gear is rotated but does not move orbitally, so that different time-delay periods are provided for circuit opening and closing operations of said interrupter, respectively.

11. In an automatic reclosing circuit interrupter having separable contacts, means responsive to a predetermined circuit condition for separating said contacts, means responsive to a circuit interrupting operation for automatically closing said contacts, a single time-delay means for controlling circuit opening and closing movements of said interrupter, planetary gearing including a plnaet gear for actuating said timedelay means, a sun gear operatively connected with a part which moves in opposite directions on circuit opening and closing movements of said interrupter, respectively, and a ring gear, means for holding said ring gear against rotation upon actuation of said sun gear in one direction whereby said planet gear is caused to rotate and move in ts O and means for preventing orbital movement of said planet gear upon actuation of said gear in the opposite direction, whereby said planet gear is rotated but does not move orbitally, so that different time-delay periods are provided for circuit opening and closing operations of said interrupter, respectively.

12. In an automatic reclosing circuit interrupter having separable contacts, means responsive to a predetermined circuit condition for separating said contacts, means responsive to a circuit interrupting operation for automatically closing said contacts, a single time-delay means for controlling circuit opening and closing movements of said interrupter, planetary gearing including a planet gear for actuating said timedelay means, a sun gear operatively connected with a part which moves in opposite directions on circuit opening and closing movements of said interrupter, respectively, and a ring gear, means for holding said ring gear against rotation upon actuation of said sun gear in a direction corresponding to a circuit opening operation of said interrupter whereby said planet gear is caused to rotate and move in its orbit, and means for preventing orbital movement of said planet gear upon actuation of said sun gear in the opposite direction, whereby said planet gear is rotated but does not move orbitally, so that different timedelay periods are provided for circuit opening and closing operations of said interrupter, respectively.

13. In an automatic reclosing circuit interrupter having separable contacts, means responsive to a predetermined circuit condition for separating said contacts, means responsive to a circuit interrupting operation for automatically closing said contacts, a single time-delay means for controlling circuit opening and closing movements of said interrupter, planetary gearing including a planet gear for actuating said timedelay means and sun and ring gears, one of which is operatively connected with a part which moves in opposite directions on circuit opening and closing -movements of said interrupter, means for holding the other of said gears against rotation upon actuation of said one gear in one direction whereby said planet gear is caused to rotate and move in its orbit, means for preventing orbital movement of said planet gear upon actuation of said one gear in the oppostie direction, whereby said planet gear is rotated but does not move orbitally, so that different time-delay periods are provided for circuit opening and closing operations of said interrupter, respectively, and means responsive to orbital movement of said planet gear an amount greater than that produced by a single circuit opening and closing of said interrupter for preventing a subsequent circuit closing operation.

14. In an automatic reclosing circuit interrupter having separable contacts, means responsive to a predetermined circuit condition for separating said contacts, means responsive to a circuit interrupting operation for automatically closing said contacts, a single time-delay means for controlling circuit opening and closing movements of said interrupter, planetary gearing including a planet gear for actuating said timedelay means and sun and ring gears one of which is operatively connected with a part which moves in opposite directions on circuit opening and closing movements of said interrupter, respectively, means for holding the other of said gears against rotation upon actuation of said one gear in one direction whereby said planet gear is caused to rotate and move in its orbit, means for preventing orbital movement of said planet gear upon actuation of said one gear in the opposite direction, whereby said planet gear is rotated but does not move orbitally, so that different time-delay periods are provided for circuit opening and closing operations of said interrupter, respectively, means responsive to orbital movement of said planet gear an amount greater than that produced by a single circuit opening and closing of said interrupter for preventing a circuit closing operation, and means biasing said planet gear for reverse orbital movement to a normal position so that said interrupter will be prevented from reclosing only in response to a predetermined number of closely successive operations of said interrupter.

15. In an automatic reclosing circuit interrupter having separable contacts, means responsive to a predetermined circuit condition having a part movable a predetermined amount and then causing separation of said contacts, means responsive to a circuit interrupting operation for automatically closing said contacts, a movable ticker controlled member, a pair of ratchet means for actuating said member upon movement of said ratchet means in opposite directions, respectively, one of said ratchet means being associated with said part for delaying circuit opening movements of said interrupter, and the other of said ratchet means being movable with said contacts during at least part of their circuit closing movement to delay a circuit closing operation.

16. In an automatic reclosing circuit interrupter having separable contacts, means responsive to a predetermined circuit condition having a part movable a predetermined amount and then causing separation of said contacts, means responsive to a circuit interrupting operation for automatically closing said contacts, a movable ticker controlled member, a pair of ratchet means for actuating said member in the same direction upon movement of said ratchet means in opposite directions, respectively, one of said ratchet means being associated with said part for delaying a circuit opening movement of said interrupter, the other of said ratchet means being movable with said contacts during at least part of their circuit closing movement to delay a circuit closing operation whereby said member is advanced a predetermined amount on a circuit opening and closing operation, and means responsive to advancement of said member a greater amount due to a plurality of successive circuit opening and closing operations for maintaining said contacts separated.

17. In an automatic reclosing circuit interrupter having separable contacts, means responsive to a predetermined circuit condition having a part movable a predetermined amount and then causing separation of said contacts, means responsive to a circuit interrupting operation for 13 terrupter, the other of said ratchet means being movable with said contacts during at least part of their circuit closing movement to delay a circuit closing operation whereby said member is advanced a predetermined amount on a circuit opening and closing operation, said member being biased to reset to a normal position, and means responsive to advancement of said member a greater amount due to a plurality of closely successive circuit opening and closing operations 10 for maintaining said contacts separated.

JAMES M. WALLACE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 5 file of this patent:

Number 14 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Happoldt Mar. 4, 1890 Thomson Nov. 19, 1893 Lloyd Sept. 15, 1903 Jackson Nov. 6, 1906 Walle Jan. 26, 1937 Gamel July 26, 1938 Wilhelm May 16, 1939 Jones Aug. 29, 1939 Thompson May 4, 1943 Thompson May 4, 1943 Thompson May 4, 1943 Lincks et a1. Jan. 21, 1947 

